Hanging ornament



p 1960 c. N. CRITCHER 2,951,673

HANGING ORNAMENT Filed July 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

62 EM M 02/ 70/1 52,

ATTOE/VEVS.

Sept. 6, 1960 c. N. CRITCHER 73 HANGING ORNAMENT Filed July 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8.

5g JNVEN TOR.

WWW 9m Uniteri HANGING ORNAMENT Clem N. Critcher, 57 Church St., Mount Clemens, Mich.

Filed July 25, 1958, Ser. No. 751,024

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-318) This invention relates generally to ornaments or or namentally-shaped utilitarian articles. More particularly, the invention has reference to a device of the character stated which will be so designed as to have an unusually attractive, attention-getting appearance. The attractiveness of the device is imparted thereto by reason of a particular type of means for suspending the device from an overhead support. -In this regard, it is proposed in carrying out the invention to so design the suspension means as to cause the device to be seemingly hanging. without support, in midair.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which will have particularly attractive characteristics that heighten the desirability of using the same in the home. It is quite customary, of course, for home owners to suspend flower pots, fish bowls, etc. from wall-mounted brackets or the like. The invention may be used wherever one would be ordinarily using one of the conventionally supported ornaments falling in this general category.

Another object is to provide a device as stated which, while having particular adaptability for use in the home, could with some modification of a relatively simple nature, be used as an advertising device, designed to attract attention by reason of its seeming defiance of the laws of gravity.

Another object is to provide a hanging ornament that will have particular strength as regards its adaptability for supporting comparatively heavy weights, in relation to the amount of support given the same by the suspension means.

Still another object is to provide a balanced assembly of component parts in the ornament, so designed that a plurality of said components may be used as individual, bowl-type ornaments, etc.

Still another object is to provide a device of the character stated in which the principles of the invention can be carried out, despite modifications wherein the device could be supported upon a sharply pointed instrument such as an ice pick; wherein the device could be supported by a plurality of very thin Wires; could be supported from the ears or from another part of the body of a statue of an animal, or of a human figure; and could be supported from the ceiling, wall, etc.

In carrying out the invention, advantage is taken of certain laws of physics, in a highly novel manner, through the provision of an inventive structure wherein, by reason of said laws, it is possible to make certain objects seemingly hang in midair, making it appear to the cassual viewer that the objects are self-supporting.

Another object is to provide a device so designed as to permit the provision of many interesting and unusual.

effects.

Still another object is. to so form the device that it can support any of a plurality of ornamental or quasiornamental items, such as an ivy plant hanger, goldfish bowl, etc.

. Other objects will appear from the following descrip- 2 tion, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a device accord ing to the present invention, showing one form of the invention, a portion being shown in section;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the device as seen from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 4 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view showing the connection of the suspension rod to the support bar, the scale being enlarged above that of Figures 1-3;

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 in which the support bar has been modified;

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 4 showing another modification of the support bar and also of the suspension rod;

Figure 7 is a view like Figure 4 showing yet another modification in a support bar and suspension rod means;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view showing yet another means of support of the device; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, designated at 10 is an elongated, straight, flat support bar of horizontally elongated, rectangular configuration, said support bar being disposed in a vertical plane, 1

The bar 10 has been shown to particular advantage in Figure 4 and at one end is provided with an attaching means or a longitudinal slot 12. Slot 12 is relatively short in length, and is inclined slightly from the horizontal. The slot declines in a direction toward the adjacent end edge 13 of the bar. The slot, as will be noted from Figure 4, opens upon edge 13 a very short distance above the bottom edge f the bar 10.

Generally designated at 14 is a support rod. In the form shown in Figure 1, said rod (see Figure 2) is approximately of inverted V-shape. Rod 14 is formed of a relatively stiff wire material, including downwardly divergent, straight legs 16 integral at their upper, convergent ends with a folded, forwardly projecting extension 18 that is inclined correspondingly to the slot 12 (Figure 1) when the legs 16 are disposed in a vertical plane perpendicular to the vertical plane of the bar 10.

At their lower ends, the legs 16 are integral with forwardly projecting supporting fingers 20. Referring to Figure 3, fingers 20 diverge in a direction forwardly from the common vertical plane a-a of the support legs 16. Fingers 20, as will be noted in Figures 1 and 2, are disposed in a common horizontal plane.

The fingers 20 are secured in any suitable manner to the top edge of an ornamentally shaped bowl or equivalent receptacle 21. Said bowl might be a flower pot, an ivy plant hanger, a gold-fish bowl, etc. The particular shape and nature of the supported, ornamentally shaped member 21 is relatively immaterial to successful practicing of the invention. It is sufficient to note, for the purpose of the present application, that the bowl 21 has the greatest part of its weight disposed to the right of the plane a-a, with said greater part of the weight of the bowl being at the same side of the plane as is the length of the support bar 10.

At a location on the circumference of the bowl equidistant from the fingers 20, a clip 22 is detachably connected to the bowl' Said clip is of wire material, and has an upwardly, forwardly projecting portion 24 which terminates in a series of convolutions that are disposed horizontally. At its opposite end, the clip 22 has a pair of spring fingers 26 engageable against the inner surface of the bowl 21 in closely spaced relation to a U-shaped spring finger 28 integrally formed with the clip 22. Findisposed disc 46.

gers 26, 28 cooperate in gripping, detachably, the adjacent wall of the bowl 21.

An auxiliary bowl 32, which can hold another plant, is provided in accordance with the invention, providing additional balance, and additional article-supporting characteristics, in the invention. The bowl 32 has a stem 33 terminating in a base 34, and the stem is received in the convolutions 24. Thus, the bowl 32 is supported outwardly, upwardly from the bowl 21. V

At the end of the bar 16 remote from the slot 12, a plu rality of screw eyes are connected to the bar. One eye 36 is connected to the adjacent end surface 37 of the bar, and projects outwardly from the bar beyond said end surface. A pair of oppositely arranged eyes 38 are, secured to and project laterally outwardly from the respective side surfaces 39 of the bar 10. An upper screw eye at; is secured to and projects upwardly from the top surface 41 of the connecting bar.

A thin suspension wire 42 is connected at its lower end to a. hanger rod 44 (Figure 9 of inverted V-shape having confronting, inwardly directed lower ends 45 embedded or otherwise fixedly engaged in a fiat thick, horizontally A center opening 47 is formed in the disc, receiving the shank of a bolt 48 the head of which overlies the top surface 49 of the disc. .As shown at 56, the surface of the shank is spaced slightly from the wall of the opening 47, to permit relativerotation of the screw and disc.

A lower disc 52 is oppositely beveled in respect to the disc 46 Disc 52 has a smooth-walled center opening 53 receiving, loosely, the lower portion of the bolt 48. A nut 54 is threaded on the lower end of the bolt and bears against the bottom surface 55 of disc 52.

A pair of vertical, transversely spaced lower suspension wires 56 (see Figure 2) are secured to the lower disc 52 atwopposite sides of the connecting bolt 48.- Wires '56 extend downwardly, and are connected to S-hooks 58, which in the illustrated example are engaged in the screw eyes 38.

A single suspension wire, such as shown at 60, could be connected to one of. theother eyes, that is, to either the eye 36 or the eye 40, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, wherein said wire 60 is connected to eye 36.

In Figure there is shown a slight modification in the connecting bar. In this form, the connecting bar 62 has an attaching means or a slot 64 inclined slightly from the horizontal. Slot 64 is disposed wholly inwardly from the adjacent end surface 65, the slot declining in a direction toward said end surface and opening upon the bottom surface of the bar 62 a short distance inwardly from the end surface 65. The folded extension 18 extends into the slot 64 in use of the device.

In Figure 6, a connecting bar 66 is provided with an attaching means or a slot 68 adjacent one end 69 of the bar. Slot 68 is inclined, being inclined in a direction upwardly from the adjacent end 69. The closed inner end of the slot is spaced inwardly from the end 69, while the open, upper end of the slot opens upon the top surface of the bar.

The suspension rod '70 in this form has downwardly divergent legs 72 arrange d like the legs 16. Legs '72, at their upper, convergent ends, are integral with a rearwardly declining, folded extension 74 adapted to engage in the slot 68.

In Figure 7 a connecting bar 76, instead of being wholly rectangular, is cut away obliquely along its top edge for a substantial part of its length, providing a sloped top surface 77 that progressively reduces the width of the bar 76 in a direction toward one end thereof.

In this form, instead of overhead wire means such as shown at 42, 56, or 60, the entire device is supported upon a nail-like bracket 88. This bracket includes a laterally projecting portion 89 terminating in an upwardly projecting, sharply tipped end 90 adapted to engage theunderside of the bar 76. V

With further reference to the formof the invention as will be understood. The legs 84 at their upper ends merge into a hook-like, inclined extension 86, defining an inclined slot 87 adapted to receive either lug 80.

In Figure 8 there is shown. another modification. In this form, the support bar 92 may have any of the slot arrangements or the lug arrangements shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 at one end. At its other end, the bar 92, instead of being supported by overhead wires, is supported upon the sharp tip 93 of a vertically, upwardly projecting element 94 which could be an ice pick, nail, etc.

It is thought that various commercial embodiments of the invention might be made, as well as the embodiments adapted for use in theihome such as that illustrated in the drawing. Such commercial embodiment. may, take various forms; They would have, in common, means intended to impart novelty to the device, so that it can be used in a store window display or similar type of merchandising operation. Such commercial embodiment might include a motor, designed to impart rotatable,

movement to a supported object, and this is thought sufficiently obvious as not to require special illustration herein.

In considering the manner in which the device operates,

it may be noted that the main feature of the item is the substitution of rods or wires in place of the chains or similar flexible supports that are usually employed for supporting such objects as bowl 21 froinan overhead bracket.

amount might be several pounds when t.ere is proper balance.

The purpose of the hanging device shown in Figure 9 A is to permit special effects, that is, the device can be turned upon its overhead support means 42, without Thus, when the device twisting said support means. in Figure 9 is used, with two wires 56, special effects can be obtained with the hanger hanging in one position.

Of course, the entire device can be supported from a statue, such as a miniature dog figure, fish, reptile, bird, etc., and the hanger can be made to hang from the mouth, ears, neck, or feet depending on the particular kind of figurine that is used. The figurine should be ,made of any materials strong enough for a proper support.

With respect tothesmall clamp shown at 22, this has a two-fold purpose. A first purpose is that by use ofthe additional clamp and object 32, the model mayhandle much more weight than it ordinarily could, with proper balance being retained. The increased length,.plus the.

invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

Whatis claimedis:

1. A hanging ornament comprising an elongated hen-i zontal'sup'port bar, attaching means inlthere gionzofione As a result, the pull of the supportedarticla 2,1 is both downward and outward, but the resistance a end of said bar and inclined from said one end of said bar toward the other end of said bar, an upstanding support rod formed of stifi material, an extension on the upper end of said rod and conformably shaped to the inclination of said attaching means, said rod being positioned beneath said bar adjacent said attaching means and having said extension engaging and dependingly supported from said inclined attaching means, an ornamental article carried by the lower end of said support rod, and hanger means supporting the other end of said support bar.

2. A hanging ornament comprising an elongated horizontal support bar, attaching means embodying a slot in the region of one end of said bar opening toward one end of said bar and inclined from said one end of said bar toward the other end of said bar, an upstanding rod formed of still material, an extension on the upper end of said rod and conformably shaped to the inclination of said slot, said rod being positioned beneath said bar adjacent said slot and having said extension engaging and dependingly supported from the inclined slot, an ornamental alticle carried by the lower end of said support rod, and hanger means supporting the other end of said support bar.

3. A hanging ornament comprising an elongated horizontal support bar, attaching means embodying a lug in the region of one end of said bar and inclined from said one end of said bar toward the other end of said bar, an upstanding support rod formed of stifi material, an ex tension on the upper end of said rod and conformably shaped to the inclination of said lug, said :rod being positioned beneath said bar adjacent said lug and having said extension engaging and dependingly supported from said inclined lug, an ornamental article carried by the lower end of said support rod, and hanger means supporting the other end of said support bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 337,422 Miller Mar. 9, 1886 561,196 Best June 2, 1896 615,799 Bruce Dec. 13, 1898 1,032,210 Hibbs July 9, 1912 2,281,656 Abernethy May 5, 1942 2,738,188 Hofiman Mar. 13, 1956 

